Just to set the record straight right away, I'm completely on the fence regarding the death penalty. I have serious problems with the idea of "the people" killing someone in order to demonstrate to "the people" that killing is wrong. Yet, there have been crimes committed that are so heinous that I don't think the perpetrator should ever be allowed to see another sunrise or sunset, or enjoy another breath of fresh air. So, bearing that, I'm very glad that I'm not sitting on the Peterson jury having to decide whether to recommend life without the possibility of parole, or death by lethal injection.

This week, though, I found myself growing very frustrated with the defense team's strategy of putting up character witnesses all week long who raved about what a great golfer Scott Peterson is, or some school official who never actually really knew him when he was in second grade, but dangit, he's a good citizen nonetheless! I always believed that the defense used the penalty phase of a trial to put witnesses on the stand who could/would speak to the mitigating circumstances that may have caused the defendant to commit the crime for which he is convicted (i.e., mental problems). It doesn't amount to a heck of a lot that this guy was a great golfing buddy and a nice kid in grade school, when it turns out he was a total asshole to his wife (i.e., the extra-marital affair(s)) and ended up murdering her and thus killing his unborn son. Yeah, gee, great guy, Scott Peterson!

If I were a juror having to listen to all of that irrelevant drivel, I would have been thoroughly pissed off that Mark Gerragos was, as one local radio talk show host put it so perfectly, filibustering the penalty phase by putting up witness after witness full of irrelevant testimony!

I'm not naive; I understand that the strategy was to put as much distance between the powerful and emotional testimony of Laci Peterson's mother, Sharon Rocha, and the final witness, Scott's mother Jackie Peterson. But, I have to wonder if Gerragos' strategy might backfire on him and his client when you consider that this is a very busy time of year for most people (holidays and all) and that these jurors have already given up several months of their lives for this trial. Might they feel a little less than sympathetic toward Scott and his family, considering the fact that this trial has likely caused a great deal of chaos in the lives of the jury?

Which brings me to the testimony of Jackie Peterson. This woman, it appears, has suffered horrendous hardship throughout her entire life. Ever since I first saw this frail-looking woman who needs a portable oxygen tank to breathe, I felt for her. (By the way, to those of you who shouted those horrible words at her the day Scott was convicted of murdering Laci and Connor, ROT IN HELL YOU EVIL BASTARDS! She did not deserve those hateful words: She did not commit murder!) This woman had endured so much loss and hardship growing up, then she shockingly and suddenly lost her beautiful daughter-in-law and future grandson. And now she believes that she's facing the prospect of losing her son. But here again, I ask myself, as hard as her life has been, how is that relevant to the fact that her son stands convicted of a horrible crime and what sort of punishment HE should get?

The reality of the situation is that she most likely will not lose her son. The conviction will be appealed over and over again. Even if the jury does recommend lethal injection and the judge agrees and sentences Scott Peterson to die, it could be another 20 years before he is executed. And, as strong as Jackie Peterson has had to be, I'm not sure I see her lasting another 20 years (though if she does, she has to be one of the toughest women ever to roam this world).

My heart goes out to both of these mothers: I can only begin to imagine the unbelievably cruel and horrible pain they are both going through. These women have endured enough pain, enough "punishment". But that isn't the question, here, is it? The question these jurors face is what price must Scott Peterson pay for the crimes of murdering his wife and killing his unborn son.

I'm glad I don't have to make this decision.